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The Beattie Files: Amber the multi-tasker
Trying to
stage-manage a photo shoot at the 2001 world
launch of the Harley-Davidson V-Rod turned into a
big day out
(Ed's
note: These are excerpts from young Beattie's book on
some of the more colourful incidents in an action-packed
life. See the end of the piece for more info.)
(September 2024, Chris Beattie)
All
eyes turned to the vast creamy white ’53 Cadillac
convertible as it lunged into the massive car park on
the outskirts of LA. It was a typically hot and dry
California summer day. The top was down and the
occupants were basking in the sunlight.
The
figure in the driver’s seat was clad in a psychedelic
purple and green tie-dyed shirt that perfectly matched
his John Lennon sunnies and circus ringmaster blue top
hat. Beside him, blonde locks flowing in the breeze, was
a stunning, sun-tanned woman radiating an aura of
detached boredom.
“Chris,
where can we set up for the photos,” inquired my
eccentric top-hat-wearing mate, Peter Linney, one of
America’s leading car and motorcycle photographers, as
he screeched to a halt. “This is Amber, by the way. She
is your model
for the
day.”
Amber
gave me a little wave and pulled out her make up kit and
costume bag as she stepped from the Caddie. “Hi Chris,
is there somewhere I can get changed?” she smiled,
displaying a mouthful of expensive pearl white
dentistry.
Originally
from Norway, Pete was a very accomplished photographer
and had also made a name for himself as a videographer,
most notably being the first cameraman to work on the
popular Cops reality TV series. He certainly
had some hair-raising stories to tell about the footage
that never went to air…
As far
as entrances go, it was right up there with the second
coming. The crowd of 200 or so journalists and
Harley-Davidson officials milling around the large
marquee in the centre of the car park all turned as one
to watch as Amber, decorated in a small halter top and
tiny denim shorts and stiletto heels, stepped gracefully
from the Caddie. She had the looks and presence of a
movie star and knew how to put on a show-stealing
performance. Even better – it was all for my benefit, or
at least for the benefit of my magazine, Heavy
Duty.
The
venue was Irwindale Raceway on the outskirts of LA and
the occasion was the world launch of Harley-Davidson’s
radical-for-the-time V-Rod. We had spent the morning on
the dragstrip, hammering the powerful new roadster down
the quarter-mile, the journos from around the world
doing their best to show up any defects in the shiny
silver new Harley.
I’d
been in touch with factory officials a few weeks earlier
to arrange a special photoshoot on the day. I knew time
would be tight, but I also knew that I had a world scoop
on my hands. Heavy Duty would be the
first magazine anywhere on the planet to go to print
with the full story of the V-Rod. I just needed to make
sure I’d have the pics to do it justice.
Fortunately,
I’d
known Pete for a while and was confident he’d deliver.
And he assured me he had just the lady in mind to
decorate the cover of my V-Rod Special Edition.
Harley came to the party too, setting aside the lunch
break on the first day of the launch especially so we’d
have enough time to get all the photos we wanted.
But
just prior to the lunch break, we were all asked to
assemble in the marquee. After a morning spent dueling
on the dragstrip, it was time to hand out some awards.
Legendary Harley designer Willie G Davidson was on hand
to present the accolades as each journo was acknowledged
for some feat of dragstrip daring.
“Chris
Beattie, I’ve got something really special for you,” he
announced as I made my way to the front of the packed
marquee. Shaking my hand, Willie presented me with a
brass Harley-Davidson belt buckle for ‘Fastest reaction
time’ on the day.
“Thanks
Willie,” I said into the microphone. “When you said
‘something really special’ I thought you had
something else in mind,” I joked, before one of the
Aussie contingent yelled out: “Yeah, like a BJ!” which
brought the house down. Given Willie’s stature as
motorcycling royalty, some H-D staffers probably didn’t
see comedy in the comment, but Willie’s good humour
ensured no offence was taken.
I don’t
think too many journos actually bothered with lunch as
most seemed distracted as we set up our shoot on the
start line of the dragstrip. By now Amber had changed
into a very small red bikini, which definitely showed
off her gym-fit physique to maximum effect. With arc
lights, reflectors and light sensors cocooning her and
the V-Rod, Amber went through all of her poses like a
true pro.
“Mate,”
I said as I helped Pete pack away his gear. “I really
appreciate the effort today. And Amber was an absolute
stunner.”
“Yeah,
she’s pretty good … really knows her stuff,” he replied.
“And it gets even better. She only does the modelling
work on the side. Her day job is running a bar down on
Venice Beach. Actually, she’s the owner.”
“You’ll
have to come by for a drink sometime,” chimed in Amber
as she emerged from the marquee back in her day gear.
A few
days later Pete and I enjoyed a couple of margaritas on
the boardwalk at Venice Beach.
“Anything
else with that?” asked Amber, a master of multi-tasking
before it was even a thing …
More at The Beattie Files
home page
The excerpt is from Beattie's wild and woolly book. So far as we know it's had one brief print run and he's threatening to do another. Watch this space.
In the meantime he can be contacted by email.
More at The Beattie Files
home page
Travels with Guido columns here
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